[1] Her maternal grandfather was French-born American diplomat and Union Army veteran Charles Le Gendre.

Sekiya began studying and performing music as a small girl, including an event where she sang two songs for the Empress Shōken.

She studied at Tokyo University of the Arts and with opera singers Tamaki Miura, Rosina Storchio, and Adolfo Sarcoli.

[7][8] She sang on opera stages and gave recitals in Spain,[9] Germany,[6] Italy,[6] England, and the United States.

[10][11] A Los Angeles critic in 1931 described her as possessing "an indescribable sweetness and charm", and Sekiya's own compositions in the program as "oddly beautiful and fascinating.